Founded in 1993 by Rikers Island Catholic Prison Chaplains in response to the high recidivism rate and lack of effective rehabilitative services they witnessed in New York City jails; Abraham House began as an innovative Alternative to Incarceration Program for those convicted of nonviolent crimes.

Abraham House is a grassroots organization that offers holistic programs and services for those involved in the criminal justice system, and for youth and families affected by incarceration and other social factors such as poverty, violence, truancy, and a lack of quality education. Abraham House is a 501(c) 3 not-for-profit organization located in the Mott Haven section of the South Bronx. 

The organization’s mission is to break the cycle of incarceration by offering the incarcerated and their relatives, as well as families and children living on the margins of our society, a place of hope and community where lives can be rebuilt, families mended, lessons learned and where men, women, and children receive the necessary and practical tools to become productive citizens.

Abraham House accomplishes its mission through three core programs: an After School Program (ASP), an Alternative to Incarceration Program (ATI); and Family and Pastoral Center (FPC).

The Alternative to Incarceration Program (ATI) is a core component in Abraham House’s mission to break the intergenerational cycle of poverty and crime. The ATI Program works primarily with criminal justice involved nonviolent adults as well as with the re-entry population returning back to the community from prison.

The After School Program (ASP) offers a safe haven, academic support, counseling, and youth development curriculum to help children move ahead to the next academic grade, graduate from high school, and stay free of juvenile delinquency and criminal activity.

The Family and Pastoral Center (FPC) serves as a place of community and strength, where families affected by incarceration, immigration issues, and other social factors, can find hope, solace, friendship, and support. The program provides case management, counseling, advocacy, food pantry, religious services, and referrals to essential services – to help families deal with crises and ongoing challenges.